Good Morning. It's Monday 6th January, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...
Two points dropped as knives comes out for MeslierLeeds Utd came from behind, but then let a two goal lead slip, earning just a point against lowly Hull City at the weekend. The Whites hadn't played particularly well in either of their two previous games (Derby and Blackburn); and continued to uninspire, against an injury ravished Hull side fighting for their lives at the wrong end of the table.
Apart from a twenty minutes period early in the second half, Leeds looked anything but title contenders. They were sloppy, disjointed and inept in the final final and duly went behind after just 5 minutes, caught out once again by a trademark diagonal long ball from midfield. Wober (the slowest of the Leeds defenders) was never going to catch Kamara who calmly chipped Meslier who found himself out of his box in no-mans-land. Despite both sides missing guilt edged opportunities, the score-line remained the same going in at half-time.
The second half saw an immediate shift in momentum as Leeds found an equaliser. A moment of brilliance from Tanaka reignited their hopes. Positioned on the edge of the area, he expertly bent a rasping shot around Pandur, finding the far post. It was the shot in the arm Leeds needed to take a strangle-hold of the game - and for twenty minutes at-least, they took full advantage.
Under relentless pressure from Solomon and James, the Hull defence began to buckle with visible signs of panic developing around their penalty area. Leeds persistence paid off on the hour mark; Solomon's dangerous cross was kept alive by the alert Bogle, who cleverly recycled possession to James, before smashing home from six yards out. Two quickly became three ten minutes later when Pandur's poor distribution set up a Leeds third. He inadvertently threw the ball straight to Piroe, who took full advantage, much to the excitement of the travelling fans who finally came to life in the second half.
Carrying a a two goal lead into the final twenty minutes the game looked cut and dried; that was until another moment of madness from Meslier deduced the deficit. Following a free kick into the box, he tried in vein to keep the ball from going over his cross-bar, suspecting perhaps that it was going out for a corner!
In doing so, he dropped the ball to the feet of João Pedro, who from two yards out gave his side a lifeline going in to the final minutes of play. It was inevitable what was going to happen, and as the game went into injury time, the Tigers claimed an equaliser after the visitors failed to clear their lines after a corner.
Will action be taken or will the Whites just paper over the cracksLeeds United’s chaotic 3-3 stalemate against Hull City wasn't just two points dropped; it was a stark reminder that complacency will be punished. After dominating around Christmas time, back to back draws have seen the Whites lead almost evaporate. Despite still being top of the pile, and on target for 94 points, a single point still separates the top three, and as Leeds fans know too well - finishing third is not an option this season. On paper, Leeds boast a squad capable of blowing away any team in the Championship.
Is it fair to point the finger of blame at Meslier? He's certainly responsible for dropping points against Sunderland and Hull, with many others suggesting he's culpable for as many as 15 points this season alone. Looks of disgust from Piroe, Rodon and Rothwell seem to suggest that all may not be well in the Elland Road dressing room. Their facial revulsions tell a thousand word, but with a two week break until the Wendies game, can Leeds Utd and Daniel Farke change things around, or are they just content to paper over the cracks?
